This study will investigate whether a non-surgical treatment option will provide patients with comparable ankle function and quality of life to those treated with surgery.
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Both treatments are used across the NHS currently and are not new or experimental.
In this study we use a process called randomisation, which means you cannot choose which treatment you have.
If you decide you would like to be involved in the study you will be asked to sign a consent form.
The only additional commitment we would ask of you would be to fill out a questionnaire at the start of treatment and on three occasions during your recovery.
As you have broken your ankle you are eligible to be a part of this study.
This study is expected to last 8 years. At the end of the study we will publish the findings in medical journals and at medical conferences.
About the study
Ankle fracture is a very common injury. Treatments for ankle fractures aim to keep the bones in the right position while the breaks in the bones heal.
For more severe fractures, like yours, treatment often involves an operation where cuts are made around the ankle, and plates and screws are fitted against the bone fragments to keep them in place.
An alternative non-surgical treatment involves applying a snug plaster cast called a close contact cast, carefully shaped to your ankle, to hold the bones correctly while they heal.
This study will investigate whether the non-surgical treatment option will provide patients with comparable ankle function and quality of life to those treated with surgery.
The FAME study
What are the risks and benefits?